Recurring concern
Failure to communicate safety-critical care information effectively between care providers and families
First reported 7 Jan 2014•Latest report 1 Jun 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures in provider-to-family or family-to-provider communication where the information concerns patient safety, clinical risks, care plans, deterioration, leave arrangements, incidents, complaints or other matters directly relevant to safe care.
Not included
- Excludes communication failures solely between professionals, services or departments when families are not a relevant party.
- Excludes generic failures of documentation, staffing, training or policy compliance unless they directly constitute or prevent communication of safety-critical information to or from families.
- Excludes routine information provision or dissatisfaction that is not tied to a meaningful public-safety concern.
- Excludes communication with patients, students, prisoners or other beneficiaries where families are not materially involved.
- Reports
- 70
- Individual concerns
- 74
- Date range
- 2014–2026
- Stated actions
- 94
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient engagement with family and carers about patients' Care and Treatment Plans
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Family and carer involvement in care planning is legally limited where patients with capacity do not consent, unless overriding public interest justifies disclosure.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB
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Concerns raised1
Failure of communication between staff, patients and families
This report raised 11 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Action
Create and provide a bedside patient-safety booklet for patients and relatives.
Stated by Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Review and update the DNACPR policy to require discussion, clear communication and checking of understanding.
Stated by Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Roll out refresher training on mental-capacity, consent and communication policies.
Stated by Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure of communication in coordinating family notification of death
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient review of patient decisions about permission to contact next of kin or family
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to communicate the significance of persistently raised ESR and CK to the patient and family
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
The Trust states that it communicated the illness’s significance and appropriately warned the patient and her mother about self-discharge risks.
Stated by The Trust
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Concerns raised1
Lack of formal communication opportunities for patients’ relatives to report patients’ conditions to primary care clinicians
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Haphazard communication between staff and family
This report raised 12 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Review family and carer communication and discuss communication issues at multidisciplinary meetings to support consultation when patients consent.
Stated by Partnerships in Care Group Limited
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Short admissions and patient confidentiality constrained significant liaison and family input, although involvement was attempted where possible.
Stated by Partnerships in Care Group Limited
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Concerns raised1
Failure to provide families with copies of patients’ care plans
This report raised 8 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to listen to family concerns about changed patient behaviour
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Develop structured criteria and a protocol for identifying complex patients who would benefit from discussion at clinical meetings.
Stated by Browning Street Surgery
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
The paranoid thoughts were considered unrelated to morphine and more likely associated with stress and previous similar episodes.
Stated by Browning Street Surgery
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Concerns raised2
Failure to involve or update the family about DNAR decisions
Poor communication between clinical staff and with the patient’s family
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Data last updated 7 September 2026